Inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace.
1 However, surly influences indicate minor problems relating to a clash of wills.
2 A surly 'Don't count on it' was the best she could manage.
3 He manifested interest in the gambling of the players by surly grunts.
4 He answered all the questions put to him in a surly tone.
5 You pitched in so gladly, while the others were surly and grumbling.
6 The goat was browsing upon the grass but looked cross and surly .
7 Speaking generally, the Senate had shown itself in a surly mood lately.
8 But in his intercourse with William he was blunt and sometimes surly .
9 A surly fellow, Widdowson; very likely to play the tyrant, he thought.
10 The words were civil enough, but his manner was surly and suspicious.
11 Colourful crowds shout slogans, watched by lines of surly CRS riot police.
12 The bartender's a surly scrug, though; he just scoffs and looks away.
13 Her husband had become a surly man, and cruel; he beat her.
14 By the time the meeting began, the crowd was surly , tense, explosive.
15 As he spoke, the surly mutineers were riding slowly towards the coach.
16 The old man grew surly sometimes when sorely goaded by the new-comers.
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Surly across language varieties